A Boater's Cottage

This family's retreat doubles as a classic wooden boat museum

By Lucie B. Amundsen

Published: May 1, 2009

This isn't just a boat-style bed; it was crafted from an actual boat.

Photo by John Thompson

John Thompson and his wife, Carolynn, love their view. From their hexagon-shaped living room and deck, the couple has a perfect 180-degree vantage of Missouri’s Table Rock Lake and the Ozark Mountain range beyond into Arkansas.

They purchased their hilltop 1970s-era cottage in 2003, and since then they’ve done some upgrading. They brightened up the interior with some fresh paint and added some windows for light, says John, but mostly they elected to leave the solid bones of the place intact.

But that doesn’t mean the Thompsons haven’t put their personal stamp on their retreat.

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